Southampton Planning Board Approves Stormwater Permit, Advances Battery Storage Bylaw Toward Hearing

SOUTHAMPTON -- June 24, 2026, Southampton Planning Board unanimously approved a stormwater permit with waivers, endorsed two land plans, and renewed its planning counsel contract at a higher cap as it races to finalize a battery energy storage system bylaw before a pending solar application triggers a formal hearing. Planning Board Counsel Richard Perry warned the board that proposed changes to the draft BESS bylaw, reclassifying residential-district applications from site plan review to special permit, combined with an existing prohibition across the town's water supply protection overlay district, could leave fewer than 5 percent of Southampton's land area open to BESS installations by site plan review, a restriction he said the Attorney General would likely use to void the entire bylaw. The board voted unanimously to renew Perry's contract for fiscal year 2027 at a cap of $4,500, up from last year's $2,500 ceiling. A solar and battery storage application for 43 and 53 Pleasant Street, filed June 9, must be scheduled for a public hearing within 45 calendar days; the board tentatively targeted July 21. Paul Deeman was reelected chair and Paul Fergal elected vice chair, both unanimously.